Necktie holding method and combination

ABSTRACT

A device comprising a continuous strip of material formed in two superimposed loops biased together in the axial direction is used in holding a four-in-hand necktie laterally in place. That is, two substantially complete, 360* loops are formed in superposition to one another, the nature and formation of the material being such that the two loops are resiliently biased together. One end of the device is inserted through a shirt buttonhole and the device rotated one full turn or so, whereby the necktie may be placed through the loops with the device secured to the wearer&#39;&#39;s shirt. The device is preferably formed of metal or plastic, the loops having an inside diameter approximately as large as the width of the tie at the nominal position intended to pass through the loops.

Jewett NECKTIE HOLDING METHOD AND COMBINATION [22] Filed: Apr. 20, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 352,936

[52] US. Cl. 24/49 CF [51] Int. Cl A4ld 25/06 [58] Field of Search 132/46 R, 48 A; 24/67.9, 24/D1G. 9, 259 PF, 255 H, 255 P, 237, 49 C, 49 CC, 49 CP, 49 S, 49 R, 3 K, 49 CF, 49 A; 70/458 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 247,300 9/1881 Byron 70/458 UX 1,209,001 12/1916 Martin 24/49 CC UX 1,990,720 2/1935 White .1 24/49 CF 2,019,691 11/1935 Morehouse 24/237 2,042,807 6/1936 Seebeck 24/49 CF 2,134,394 10/1938 Morse 1 24/49 A 3,535,748 10/1970 Lely 24/49 CP [111 3,827,108 1 Aug. 6, 1974 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 852,773 10/1952 Germany 70/458 Primary Examiner-Donald A. Griffin Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Charles S. McGuire [5 7 ABSTRACT A device comprising a continuous strip of material formed in two superimposed loops biased together in the axial direction is used in holding a four-in-hand necktie laterally in place. That is, two substantially complete, 360 loops are formed in superposition to one another, the nature and formation of the material being such that the two loops are resiliently biased together. One end of the device is inserted through a shirt buttonhole and the device rotated one full turn or so, whereby the necktie may be placed through the loops with the device secured to the wearers shirt. The device is preferably formed of metal or plastic, the loops having an inside diameter approximately as large as the width of the tie at the nominal position intended to pass through the loops.

6 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures PMENTEDAUG 61974" sum 1 BF 2 PMENTED AUG 51974 3. 827. I 08 mm 2 or 2 FIG. 6

NECKTIE HOLDING METHOD AND COMBINATION BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to necktie holders and, more particularly, to four-in-hand necktie holders of the type secured to the wearers shirt beneath the tie.

It is common practice when wearing a four-in-hand necktie to use a device for restraining movement of the free ends of the tie. This is normally accomplished by attaching the device both to the tie and the shirt of the wearer. Among the most common tie holding devices are the types which clip together the shirt and tie, and those which pierce the tie and are affixed to the shirt through a buttonhole.

It is a principal object of the present invention to provide a method of using a spiral strip of material as a tie holding device.

A further object is to provide a novel combination of shirt, four-in-hand necktie and tie holding device wherein the device is an extremely simple and economical article of manufacture.

BRIEF SUMMARY The invention resides in the combination of a continuous strip of material formed in superimposed loops with a shirt and necktie to provide a tie holding device which is a common article of manufacture. Similar resilient, double loop devices have been used, for example, as key rings or holders for other articles. The present invention discloses a novel and useful method of employing such simple articles as a device for restraining lateral movement of the free ends of a four-in-hand necktie by engaging the device through a shirt buttonhole and passing the tie loosely through the loops.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES FIG. 1 is a fragmentary front view of the combination showing the holding device and necktie in a typical application;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary front view showing the holding device in position on the shirt, prior to insertion of the necktie through the device;

FIGS. 3 and 4 are side views showing the holding device in normal and axially expanded positions, respectivel FIG. 5 is a front view of a modified form of the tie holding device; and

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of .the device of FIG. 5 in the axially expanded position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Shirt 10 and necktie 12 are conventional in all respects, the shirt being of the type which buttons down the front. One of the buttons and buttonholes, designated by reference numerals 14 and 16, respectively, are shown in FIG. 2. Necktie 12 is knotted at the wearers neck and the free ends extend over the buttons on the front of the shirt.

Device 18 is formed from a continuous strip of material such as metal or plastic. As best seen in FIGS. 3 and 4, the strip extends between free ends 20 and 22in substantially two complete revolutions, forming two loops which are superimposed so that only one face is visible from the front, as seen in FIGS. 1 and 2. The nature and formation of the material is such that the loops are axially biased toward one another. That is, the natural position of the loops is as shown in FIG. 3, a pulling force in opposite directions on ends 20 and 22 being required to move the device to the position shown in FIG. 4. Although the two substantially complete loops would normally result in three thicknesses of the material, an axial bend 24 may be provided to keep the overall thickness to twice the thickness of the strip.

In use, device 18 is attached to shirt 10 by inserting one of ends 20 and 22 through an intermediate buttonhole 16 and twisting one full turn or so. The strip of material from which device 18 is formed has a width W which is, of course, less than the length L of the shirt buttonholes. The inside diameter D of device 18 is preferably approximately equal to the width of tie 12 at the point on the wider free end thereof intended to be inserted through the device. With the device secured through the buttonholes both free ends of the tie 12 may be inserted through both loops with the tie hanging freely, yet restrained from lateral movement.

One or both sides of devices 18 may be engraved or decorated, if desired, to show on the portion in front of the tie when in use. A separate emblem or device may be permanently or releasably secured to device 18, also to appear on the front of the tie, and may be wider than the dimension L since the emblem would not have to pass through the buttonhole. It is also contemplated that one of the loops may have a width substantially greater than the length of the buttonholes, thereby providing a greater area for decorating, engraving, or the like, with the narrower loop always being the one engaged with the shirt.

Such a device is shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, wherein the same reference numerals are used as in the corresponding views of the earlier described form except for the added portions. Portion 26 of one of the loops of device 10 is substantially wider than the remainder of the device, and may be wider than the length L of the buttonhole since only one loop need be passed through the buttonhole in securing device 18 to the shirt. Monogram 28, or other desired inscription, figure, etc., may be'applied to portion 26, which may extend over a relatively small portion of the length of the loop, as shown, or up to the entire 360 length of the front loop. The material from which device 18 is formed may be widened to form portion 26, or a separate piece may be attached thereto.

What is claimed is:

1. A method of using a device comprising two substantially superimposed loops of a continuous strip of material, wherein the loops have an inside diameter of several inches and are resiliently biased together by the nature and formation of the material, said method comprising:

a. inserting one end of the strip through a buttonhole of a shirt;

b. turning the device so that a substantial portion of at least one loop is engaged through the buttonhole; and

c. inserting the free ends of a four-in-hand necktie worn by the wearer of the shirt through the loops.

2. A combination comprising: a. a shirt having buttonholes down the front;

b. a four-in-hand necktie worn with said shirt and having free ends extending over said buttonholes; and

c. a tie holding device formed from a continuous strip of material in two substantially superimposed loops, one end of said strip being passed through one intermediate buttonhole and the device rotated to be secured to the shirt through said one buttonhole, the width of at least one loop being less than the length of the buttonholes and the inside diameter of the loops being substantially equal to the width of that portion of the necktie adjacent said one buttonhole.

3. The combination of claim 2 wherein said strip of material is slightly less than two complete 360 loops, the layer of material between the opposite end portions of the loop having a bend therein which lies circumferentially intermediate of said ends and is in the axial direction for a distance substantially equal to the thickness of said material.

4. The invention according to claim 2 wherein the nature and formation of said material is such that said loops are biased together in the axial direction with superimposed layers of said material normally being in contact.

5. The invention according to claim 2 wherein at least a portion of one of said loops is wider than the other portions of said strip.

6. A necktie holding device for engagement with the wearers shirt through a buttonhole, said device comprising, a continuous strip of material formed in two substantially superimposed loops, the nature and formation of said material being such that said loops are biased together in the axial direction with superposed layers of said material normally being in contact, one of said loops having a width no greater than the normal length of a shirt buttonhole, at least a portion of the other loop being of substantially greater width. 

1. A method of using a device comprising two substantially superimposed loops of a continuous strip of material, wherein the loops have an inside diameter of several inches and are resiliently biased together by the nature and formation of the material, said method comprising: a. inserting one end of the strip through a buttonhole of a shirt; b. turning the device so that a substantial portion of at least one loop is engaged through the buttonhole; and c. inserting the free ends of a four-in-hand necktie worn by the wearer of the shirt through the loops.
 2. A combination comprising: a. a shirt having buttonholes down the front; b. a four-in-hand necktie worn with said shirt and having free ends extending over said buttonholes; and c. a tie holding device formed from a continuous strip of material in two substantially superimposed loops, one end of said strip being passed through one intermediate buttonhole and the device rotated to be secured to the shirt through said one buttonhole, the width of at least one loop being less than the length of the buttonholes and tHe inside diameter of the loops being substantially equal to the width of that portion of the necktie adjacent said one buttonhole.
 3. The combination of claim 2 wherein said strip of material is slightly less than two complete 360* loops, the layer of material between the opposite end portions of the loop having a bend therein which lies circumferentially intermediate of said ends and is in the axial direction for a distance substantially equal to the thickness of said material.
 4. The invention according to claim 2 wherein the nature and formation of said material is such that said loops are biased together in the axial direction with superimposed layers of said material normally being in contact.
 5. The invention according to claim 2 wherein at least a portion of one of said loops is wider than the other portions of said strip.
 6. A necktie holding device for engagement with the wearer''s shirt through a buttonhole, said device comprising, a continuous strip of material formed in two substantially superimposed loops, the nature and formation of said material being such that said loops are biased together in the axial direction with superposed layers of said material normally being in contact, one of said loops having a width no greater than the normal length of a shirt buttonhole, at least a portion of the other loop being of substantially greater width. 